‘Educating to fraternal humanism’ 60 million students in Catholic schools and universities

The new body replaces the one founded by John Paul II. The goal is to adapt to the journey undertaken by the Church with the Synods of 2014 and 2015 and with the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Amoris laetitia of 2016.

Following Christ’s example, we must suffer and empathize with the needy, not help them "from afar", because there are those who are dirty, who "do not shower," who "stink." With our "intercessory prayer," with our "work" as Christians, we must be able to help people who suffer, to "return to society", "family life", work; in short: to "everyday life".

The supreme court intends to examine the appeals received on the vote. At the heart of the dispute is the "constitutionality" of the referendum. A Kurdish delegation waits in Baghdad for an official meeting. Concern among world news agencies: the vote is likely to weaken the Arab-Kurdish anti-Isis alliance and trigger a new internal conflict.

The United Nations Secretary-General comes out against the vote, saying it weakens the fight against the Islamic State. Iran is ready to close the border in case of independence. Rhetoric notwithstanding, Barzani’s move is designed to keep himself in power. Israel backs Kurdistan, sending a message to the United States and Turkey.

Whoever is in the government should be aware of being "subordinate" to the "people who gave them power, and God, from whom power comes through the people". The ruler who does not pray "closes in his own self-referentiality or in that of his party, in that circle from which he cannot escape; he is a man closed in on himself. "

The bishop of Niigata and President of Caritas Japan comments on yesterday’s papal message sent to the bishops of Japan. The journey stages of Card. Filoni, which will also touch Fukushima. The question of the relationship with the Neocatechumenal Way is still "unresolved".

The movement that controls the Strip open to dissolving the Administrative Committee, to holding general elections and new negotiations on a "unity government". But Fatah's number two preaches prudence: Evaluating "what's going-on on the ground before taking further steps".

During the pastoral visit of Card. Fernando Filoni, Prefect of Propaganda Fide, to the Land of the Rising Sun, Pope Francis urges the bishops and the Japanese Church to renew their missionary commitment to society, marked by suicides, divorces, religious formalism, material and spiritual poverty. The request to collaborate with ecclesial movements, perhaps in memory of the controversy with the Neocatechumenal Way.

At the Angelus, Pope Francis comments on the parable of the merciful king and the ruthless servant. It is necessary to forgive because "the human being, created in the image of God, is always greater than the evil that he commits." "The heavenly Father is full of love and wants to offer it, but he can not do this if we close our hearts to love for others."

In an audience with the group of participants in the general chapter, Pope Francis calls on them to find "possible new ways" to live the charism of the congregation founded in 1854. To learn from Jesus to "love with a human heart." The educational emergency to "accompany young generations". Valorise the laity and not give in to the evil of clericalism.

Two Saudi preachers from the Islamic tribunal have resigned. The Ahrar el Sham group withdrew last July. The Damascus Liberation Organization is just another name for al Qaeda. Retaliatory clashes increase, suspicions grow. Contacts with Russians and Iranians in an attempt to save themselves from an imminent attack by the Syrian army.

The "mystery" of the Sorrowful Virgin "is more than to reflect, to contemplate". "Contemplate the Mother of Jesus, contemplate this sign of contradiction, for Jesus is the winner, but on the Cross."

The Russian Orthodox return to the fore in the Joint Commission and focus on uniatism and "Primacy and Communion in the Second Millennium." Metropolitan Ioannis Zizioulas, historian of dialogue, replaced due to age limit. The fruits of the meeting at Cuba between Francis and Kirill and the visit of Card. Parolin to Moscow.

The jihadists hit a security checkpoint and a restaurant on the outskirts of the city. Over 90 injured, six militants killed in the clash with security agents. The area is an important means of communication used by Shiite pilgrims to reach the holy cities of Najaf and Kerbala.

On the day dedicated to the Exaltation of the Cross, Francis stressed how the latter represents a "mystery of love," one that is not easy to understand. When he wants to explain it to Nicodemus, as in today’s gospel, Jesus uses two verbs "to go up" and "come down". "Jesus came down from Heaven to bring all of us up to Heaven."